Our History

The Beginnings

Since our founding in 1970, Agape has grown from a staff of 2 to nearly 100 team members and 2,000 volunteers. Those who have known us for decades know us as an organization whose roots include a longtime affiliation with the Churches of Christ and a focus on foster care and adoption services. In fact, it was foster parents Jerry and Carol Lee whose personal experience in the 1960’s led them and other members of the Churches of Christ to found Agape nearly half a century ago.

Continuing the Mission

In the last 10-15 years, we have expanded our reach to provide support and services to Memphis-area children and families right where they live with the goal of providing healing before they ever have to enter into foster care. We currently serve close to 8,000 children and families each year in an effort to keep them safe, smart, and successful through school-based initiatives and place-based services in under-resourced communities; counseling; homeless services; and adoption and foster care while providing opportunities for them to reconnect with and grow in their faith.